Compressed-air tramway system



(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 1. I'. H. RICHARDS. GOMPRESSED AIR TRAMWAY SYSTEM.

No. 452,052. Patented May 12, 1891.

YH: News persas co., Pnouwn., wAsmNuron, n, c.

(No Model.)` I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

F. ERICHARDS. GOMPRBSSBD AIB. TRAMWAY SYSTEM.

110. 452,052. Patentad May 1,2,l 1891.

IIIIl f UNITED j STATES PATENT EEICE.

FRANCIS Il. RICHARDS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGIIOR TO ECKLEY B. COXE, OF DRIFTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

COMPRESSED-AIR TRAIVIWAY SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 452,052, dated May 12, 1891. Application filed January l0, 1889. Serial No. 296,000. (No model.)

ToaZZ whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANCIS H. RICHARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Compressed-Air Tramway Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates, to compressed-air tramway systems in which the motors are supplied from one or more reservoirs located along the line of tramway, the object being to furnish means or apparatus for supplying the compressed air to the motors in a more expeditious and convenient manner than heretofore employed.

To this end the invention consists in the improvements hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is aplan view (drawn on a small scale) showing apparatus embodying my invention, in which view the motor is shown approaching the deliveryhead of the supply apparatus. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the motorin position for receiving` its supply of air. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View (on a larger scale) through the supply pipe and valvesA in line a a, Fig. 2, showing the apparatus in use. Fig. 4 is a plan view, partially in section, showing the apparatus in position for use, and showing also a modification of one of the valves. Fig. 5 is a side. elevation of the form of apparatus shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 shows one construction of the valve that is shown in Fig. 4.

Similar characters designate like parts in Vall the figures.

The improved tramway system shown in the drawings consists of a tramway-line, a motor running on said line and provided with areceiver-head having a supply-passage normally closed by a suitable inwardly-opening valve, a supply-pipe leading to a point adjacent or contiguous to said tramway-line, and a delivery apparatus connecting with said pipe and having an outlet-valve adapted to be automatically opened by the movelnent of a head constituting a part of said apparatus, said deliveryapparatus being supported in position to meet and deliver into said receiverhead on the approach of the motor. In these respects, in a general sense, my present improvements are the same as those I have described in a separate application, Serial No.

295,999, liled January 1.0, 1889, and are deemed to be covered by the claims of said application; but in my present application I have shown the said delivery apparatus constructed to swing, so that after the delivery-valve is Well opened, a few inches motion of the motor on the tramway-line does not essentially affect the said valve; also, the organization of the system is such that the pressure of the movable head is substantially cross- Wiseto said line, so that the motor Y does not require to be held forward in the same manner as described in my said other application; l

CL may be the main line'of atramway system,

or it mayrepresenta siding or branchline. At the terminus of the track (if a siding, as shown) I place a post P, provided witha suitable buffer 2 to receive the impact of the draw-head 3 of the mot-or, and thus limit the forward movement thereof in the ordinary manner. On the front plate 4 of the motortank (or, if preferred, on any other suitable part of the motor accessible from a forward direction) I place the receiver-head, through which the compressed air (or other compressed gas for motive power) is supplied to the tank. This head may be of various particular forms and arrangements; but the y construction shown in the drawings I consider a suitable one for the purpose, in view of the swinging movement of the delivery apparatus. This head, designated in a general Way by H, 'consists of a revolving or swinging hollow part 5, having a stem 6 leading to the motor-tank, and having the supply-passage 29 and valveseat 7, and means (as the hollow stud 8 or the like) for supporting the check-valve 9 by its IOC stem 10. A spring 11 should be provided for assisting to close said valve. The forward end of the head H is preferably enlarged or flanged, as at F, (see Fig. 4,) to secure a larger surface on which to receive the impact of the retreating head of the delivery apparatus, and thus to provide for securing and maintaining a proper alignment of the said heads with each other while the same are in contact, and in case the tank should Vary a little (as in ordinary practice) in its position relative to the track.

The delivery-head having a swinging or rotatory movement, the head I-I should be constructed to move correspondingly. For this purpose the stein G thereof is fitted to turn in the stuffing-box 1T of the pipe L, which is connected to the front plate 4 (or other part) of the tank M. At its upper end the head H has a journal 40, fitting in the bearing 42, which is also secured to said part 4. This bearing serves not only to assist in holding the head H in place against the impact of the delivery-head D,but also receives the upward thrust due to the pressure of air within the pipe L, which pressure tends to force said head-stem 6 upward out of the stuffing-box N. The head H is provided with a lug 44 (oppositely disposed to 'the lug45 on head D) for effecting the alignment of said heads as the same approach each other.

The delivery apparatus consists, essentially, 0f two parts, one non-retreating and one movable or retreating, the delivery-passages extending through both parts and having in one part a delivery-valve operated from or by the other part. This apparatus, like the head H, may be constructed of various forms and arrangement,of .which that shown in the drawings I deem suitable for the required work or service. The movable or retreating head D is bored to slide on a delivery-tube T, which is suitably supported and is connected by its pivotal arm or pipe 12 with a source of supply as, for instance, the reservoir R. Said non-retreating part T is or may be constructed integral with its said pivotal arm, as herein shown, or may be formed separately and suitably connected thereto.

To prevent leakage, the delivery-head D is or may be provided with a gland 16 and packing 17 and bolts 18, which parts together constitute a well-known form of stuffing-box for the said purpose. As shown in Fig. 3, the head D has'a valve-seat 2O for the deliveryvalve 2l, which is carried by a stem 22, that is affixed to the tube T by the central hub 23 and wings 24. In practice the said valve-stem may be removably secured to or in said hub 23 by a nut 26, and the valve to the said stem by similar means. (Not shown.) Said valve by these means serves as a stop to limit the forward movement ot' the head D, and maybe readily'removed when it is desired to take the said head off from the said part T. rEhe front (or'forward) end of the head D, I enlarge about as shown at G, similar to the flange F,

and insert therein a projecting ring 30, Fig. 3, of rubber or the like packing material. I'Vhen the motor approaches the deliveryhead and drives the same back, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, this packing-ring is forcibly compressed, and (if well made) forms an airtight connection between the flanges F and G. To secure a sufficient or an increased resistance for this purpose, I provide a resistancespring 32, which also serves to overcome, in part or wholly, the friction of the stuffing-box, and thus assist in closing the said valve. These several functions in the form of apparatus shown in the drawings are performed in some measure by t-he pressure of air Within the head D against the inner side of the annular valve-seat 20. Thus the pressure of the air-supply and the force of the spring cooperate to perform the same work.

The flange G is preferably furnished with a lug 45 (similar to the lug 44 on the flange F) to assist in effecting the proper aligning of said heads I-I and l). As the motor approaches the delivery-head standing normally in the inclined position shown in Fig. 1, the lug 44 strikes said head D and the lug 45 strikes said head H, so that the said part-s interlock in a sense, and so that the head H carries the head Dalong with it until reaching the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4, during which movement the head D retreats or moves back on vthe tube T, thus opening the delivery-valve and delivering air into the receiver-head and to the tank M. After standing a sufficient time, as in Fig. 2, the motor is run backward, carrying back the head D and leaving it where firsttaken, ready to be used again, as in Fig. 1.

The swinging part of the delivery apparatus is arranged to swing on the axis of the stem 12, this and the journal 46, (fitting in the bearing 48,) serving as journals for said tube T, this being a convenient plan whereby the said stem may be securely packed without interfering with its rotatory movement. For this purpose said stem fits into the stuffingboX J and connects with the interior of the reservoir R. This connection may be made in various forms, of which one (among others not shown) is shown in Fig. 3 and anotherin Figs. 4 and 5.

In case full reliance is placed on the valve 21 the stem. 12 may communicate directly and freely with said reservoir, (the same as stem G does with tank l\I;) but I use in some cases an intervening valve, which may be constructed to be operated by and from the rotatory movement of said stem 12, so that when the delivery-head stands, as in Fig. 1, said intervening valve shall be closed, and When standing, as in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5, shall be open. This mode of operation is secured by means of an actuating-stem connecting said swinging part with said valve. Such connection may be made directly, as in Fig. 3, or indirectly, as in Figs. 4 and 5. Vhen connected directly, the stem 50, fixed in the part T, may

IOC

extend downward and connect with the rotary valve 60, as in Fig. 3. As here shown, said valve has a series of holes 52 corresponding with the holes 54 of the plate 51, that forms one part of the frame-work supporting the delivery apparatus. When the said apparatus is swung into working position', as in Fig. 2, said holes 52 and 54 coincide and this valve 60 is Y open 3 but when the apparatus stands, as in Fig. l, the valve 60 is turned so that said holes do not coincide and the valve is closed. Then the said connection is an indirect one, the valve may in some cases be a piston-valve and arranged as in Figs. 4 and 5. In this case the valve 70, having a series of holes 72, is fitted to slide within the cylinder 7 5, having the corresponding holes 74. The interior of cylinder '7 5 communicates with that of stem l2 through some suitable passage-way or port, as 7G, which may be formed in the casting S, that may constitute, as in Fig. 4,

the head of the reservoir R. The valve has a stem '77, which passes through the usual stuffing-box S0, and connects by the link '78 and arm 8l (or in other equivalent manner) to the swinging part T. By this means the valve not only operates simultaneously with said part T, but acts as an actuating-piston to s wing said part from its position in Fig. 2 to that in Fig. 1. At the same time the piston slides toward the left hand in Fig. 4 and shuts oit the communication through the said holes therein. The extent of such movement is or may be limited by a suitable stop or by the left-hand end of the piston 70 striking against the inner side of the head S.

In Fig. 6 a further improvement is shown. In this form the valve 70 and cylinder 7 5 are the same as in Fig. 4; but the valve 70 has in addition a puppet-valve 7l, whose seat is at 91 on the cylinder or casing 90, that surrounds the cylinder 7 5. In this case the valve 7l serves as the aforesaid stop for the valve 70, and also provides additional security against leakage.

The mode of using the apparatus as a whole is the same as above described, whether or not it has the additional or intervening valve orvalves, and such operation may, it is believed, be understood from the drawings and preceding description without further explanation.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a tramway system, the combination, with the tramway-line and a supply-pipe or reservoir at a point adjacent to said line, of a motor adapted to run on said line and provided with the swinging receiver-head having a supply-passage normally closed, and a swinging delivery apparatus comprising the swinging tube and the hollow head sliding on said tube, said tube being connected with the supply-pipe or reservoir, and the delivery apparatus being located to meet the receiver-head on the approach of the motor, and the receiver and delivery heads being i constructed for engagement,substantially as described.

2. In a tramway system, the combination, with the tramway-line and the supply-pipe or reservoir at a point adjacent to said line, of a motor adapted to run on said line and provided with a rotatory receiving-head, substantially as described, and a swinging delivery apparatus, substantially as described, connected with said source of supply andlocated to meet said receiver-head on the approach of the motor, said deliveryapparatus having a hollow retreating delivery-head sliding on the swinging delivery-tube and adapted to engage with said receiver-head and-to be driven back by the motor, substantially as described.

3. In a tramway system, the combination, with the tramway-line and a supply-pipe or reservoir at a point adjacent to the said line, of a motor adapted to run on said line and provided with a receiver-head, substantially as described, and a delivery apparatus set to4 coact with said receiver-head and consisting of two parts, one a swinging part and the other a hollow'part iitted to slide longitudinally upon the swinging part in a direction laterally of the movement of the motor, said delivery apparatus having a valve constructed to be operated by the movement of said swinging part, substantially as described.

4. In a tramway system, the combination, with the pivotally-supported receiverhead carried on the motor and having the transverse face F, of the swinging delivery apparatus comprising the swinging delivery-tube and the sliding head D, mounted on said tube and having the transverse face G corresponding to said face F, said delivery apparatus being located to meet and engage the receiver-head on the .approach of the motor, and said heads being provided with means, substantially as described, for securing their alignment, substantially as described.

5. In a tramway system, the combination, with a swinging delivery-head consisting of two parts, one sliding on the other and constructed, substantially as described, to engage the receiver-head on the motor, of the rotatory receiver-head supported in bearings on the motor and provided with a lug,`substantially as described, for effecting the proper aligning of the said heads on the approach of the motor, substantially as described.

6. In apparatus for supplying compressedair motors, the combination of a swinging delivery-head consisting of two hollow parts, one sliding on the other and located to engage with and deliver to the approaching motor, and a delivery-valve intermediate to said head and the air-supply and connected to be opened by the forward movement and to be closed by the backward movement of said swinging head, substantially as described.

7. In apparatus tor supplying compressedair motors, the combination of a swinging IOC IIC

serving as a piston to aetuate said head, substantially as described.

9. In apparatus of the class specified, the perforated valve-cylinder 75, the outer casing 90, having valve-seat 91, and the pistonvalve 70, working` in cylinder 75 and having the puppet-valve 7l seating' on the said casing, substantially as described.

l0. In apparatus of the. class specified, the combination, with the receiver-head havinga hollow stem journaled in a part communicating with the 1notor-tank,of. the upperjournal 40 and the upper bearing 42, carrying said upper journal and resisting the upward thrust of the pressure Within said head, substanz5 tiall5T as described.

FRANCIS Il. RICHARDS. Titnessesz LEWIS C. HEERMANN, HENRY L. REoKARD. 

